Nationals Make History, Clinch First Playoff Spot

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 20: Ryan Zimmerman #11 (L) and Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals walk off the field after the Nationals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 to clinch a playoff spot at Nationals Park on September 20, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Ryan Zimmerman #11 (L) and Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals walk off the field after the Nationals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 to clinch a playoff spot at Nationals Park on September 20, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP)—The Washington Nationals brought postseason baseball back to the nation’s capital for the first time since 1933, earning a playoff spot Thursday night with a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A crowd of 30,359 stood and cheered in the ninth inning, then got even louder when Drew Storen struck out Hanley Ramirez to end it. Manager Davey Johnson saluted the fans as he left the field and the team wore caps acknowledging the playoff berth.

Washington’s magic number to win the NL East was reduced to eight. The Nationals lead idle Atlanta by 5 1/2 games.

The Nationals became the second team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this year. Cincinnati sealed its slot earlier in the day.

Washington was last in the postseason 79 years ago, when player-manager Joe Cronin and the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games in the World Series.

Until this year, the Nationals had never had a winning season — nor finished above third place — since moving from Montreal for the 2005 season. It will be just the franchise’s second postseason berth and its first since the Expos came within a game of the World Series in 1981.

The Nationals lost more than 100 games in both 2008 and 2009, allowing them to draft pitcher Stephen Strasburg and center fielder Bryce Harper.

The loss dropped the Dodgers three games behind St. Louis for the NL’s second wild-card spot. Milwaukee moved ahead of Los Angeles with its win over Pittsburgh.

Detwiler (10-6) allowed just Mark Ellis’ fourth-inning home run and two singles. He struck five and walked one. Storen pitched the ninth for his third save.